Self-reported Traits Research Articles

Examining Relationships between Cognitive Flexibility, Exercise Perceptions, and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors.

Adults do not engage in enough physical activity. Investigating cognitive and physiological factors related to improving this behavior-and reducing health risks-remains a public health priority. Our objective was to assess whether cognitive flexibility influenced perceptions and choice of exercise programs and whether flexibility was associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Independent sample groups of college-aged adults (18-24 yrs) participated in two studies. Data were collected on individuals' degree of cognitive flexibility (both self-reported and objectively measured), perceptions and choice of exercise programs, and health status markers known to be associated with CVD (vascular function, muscular strength, and body composition). Vascular function was assessed with a near-infrared spectroscopy device, strength was defined as handgrip, and body composition was estimated via digital circumferences. Self-reported flexibility reliably predicted individuals' choice of exercise program and perceptions of effort required for success on an exercise program. The relationships among CVD risk factors and objectively measured cognitive flexibility were not significant, demonstrating that identifying a healthy individual's degree of performance-based cognitive flexibility does not predict health status. Furthermore, although greater self-reported trait flexibility (rigidity) is known to predict higher (lower) likelihood of physical activity, this finding should not be extrapolated to also assume that flexibility (rigidity), as measured by objective cognitive tests, is associated with reduced CVD risk in healthy adults. We posit a rationale for how understanding cognitive flexibility and rigidity can play an impactful role in improving adherence to exercise prescriptions targeted to reducing risks.

Not realizing that you don't know: Fraction state anxiety is reduced by natural number bias.

Research has shown that mathematics anxiety negatively correlates with primary school mathematics performance, including fraction knowledge. However, recently no significant correlation was found between fraction arithmetic performance and state anxiety measured after the fraction task. One possible explanation is the natural number bias (NNB), a tendency to apply natural number reasoning in fraction tasks, even when this is inappropriate. Students with the NNB may not realize they are answering incorrectly. The aim is to examine whether a misconception, namely the NNB, can influence students' fraction state anxiety. The participants were 119 fifth- and sixth-grade students categorized as belonging to an NNB group (n = 60) or a No-NNB group (n = 59), according to their NNB-related answering profile on a fraction arithmetic task. Group differences were examined for state anxiety and performance on a fraction and a whole number arithmetic task and self-reported trait mathematics anxiety. The NNB group reported lower fraction state anxiety than the No-NNB group, but there was no significant difference in trait mathematics anxiety. Furthermore, the NNB group reported lower fraction state anxiety than whole number state anxiety, while the opposite was true for the No-NNB group. The present study suggests that students' perceptions of their own performance influence their state anxiety responses, and students with a NNB may not be aware of their misconception and poor performance. Not taking into account qualitative differences in low performance, such as misconceptions, may lead to misinterpretations in state anxiety-performance relations.

Emotional intelligence among medical students in Sweden – a questionnaire study

BackgroundEmotional intelligence (EI), the ability to understand and regulate one’s and other’s emotions, has been linked to academic and clinical performance and stress management, making it an essential skill to develop during medical school. Nevertheless, uncertainty remains about the impact of medical education on EI, its association with sociodemographic factors, and the potential moderating role of gender. Therefore, this study aimed to explore levels of global EI among Swedish medical students based on their completed semesters while analyzing the potential moderator role of gender and identifying potential EI differences associated with age, gender, prior education, work experience, and previous experience working in a leadership position.MethodsThe participants were medical students in semesters 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 at a Swedish University. Participants answered the self-report Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire - Short Form (TEIQue-SF) and demographic questions. For each participant, the mean global trait EI was calculated (range 1–7), and differences were compared based on semesters and sociodemographic factors. In addition, we investigated the relationship between semester and EI scores with gender as a moderator.ResultsOf the 663 invited medical students, 429 (65%) responded, including 269 women (62.7%), 157 men (36.6%), and 3 identifying as others (0.7%). The participants had a mean global trait EI score of 5.33. Final-year students demonstrated significantly higher global trait EI scores than first-year students, and gender did not have a moderating effect across semesters. Furthermore, students in the age group 25–29 years showed higher EI scores compared to those in the age group 21–24 years, while there were no significant differences in EI scores for older students (≥ 30 years) compared to other age groups. Higher EI scores were also positively associated with previous work-and leadership experiences. Gender and previous education did not significantly impact EI scores.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that higher EI scores are associated with semesters of medical education, age, and previous work and leadership experience. Future longitudinal studies are needed to identify factors that could improve EI among medical students to design curricular activities aimed at supporting the EI of the next generation of physicians.

The Role of Emotion Regulation, Affect, and Sleep in Individuals With Sleep Bruxism and Those Without: Protocol for a Remote Longitudinal Observational Study.

Sleep bruxism (SB) is an oral behavior characterized by high levels of repetitive jaw muscle activity during sleep, leading to teeth grinding and clenching, and may develop into a disorder. Despite its prevalence and negative outcomes on oral health and quality of life, there is currently no cure for SB. The etiology of SB remains poorly understood, but recent research suggests a potential role of negative emotions and maladaptive emotion regulation (ER). This study's primary aim investigates whether ER is impaired in individuals with SB, while controlling for affective and sleep disturbances. The secondary aim tests for the presence of cross-sectional and longitudinal mediation pathways in the bidirectional relationships among SB, ER, affect, and sleep. The study used a nonrandomized repeated-measures observational design and was conducted remotely. Participants aged 18-49 years underwent a 14-day ambulatory assessment. Data collection was carried out using electronic platforms. We assessed trait and state SB and ER alongside affect and sleep variables. We measured SB using self-reported trait questionnaires, ecological momentary assessment (EMA) for real-time reports of SB behavior, and portable electromyography for multinight assessment of rhythmic masticatory muscle activity. We assessed ER through self-reported trait questionnaires, EMA for real-time reports of ER strategies, and heart rate variability derived from an electrocardiography wireless physiological sensor as an objective physiological measure. Participants' trait affect and real-time emotional experiences were obtained using self-reported trait questionnaires and EMA. Sleep patterns and quality were evaluated using self-reported trait questionnaires and sleep diaries, as well as actigraphy as a physiological measure. For the primary objective, analyses will test for maladaptive ER in terms of strategy use frequency and effectiveness as a function of SB using targeted contrasts in the general linear model. Control analyses will be conducted to examine the persistence of the SB-ER relationship after adjusting for affective and sleep measures, as well as demographic variables. For the secondary objective, cross-sectional and longitudinal mediation analyses will test various competing models of directional effects among self-reported and physiological measures of SB, ER, affect, and sleep. This research received funding in April 2017. Data collection took place from August 2020 to March 2022. In all, 237 participants were eligible and completed the study. Data analysis has not yet started. We hope that the effort to thoroughly measure SB and ER using gold standard methods and cutting-edge technology will advance the knowledge of SB. The findings of this study may contribute to a better understanding of the relationship among SB, ER, affect, and sleep disturbances. By identifying the role of ER in SB, the results may pave the way for the development of targeted interventions for SB management to alleviate the pain and distress of those affected. DERR1-10.2196/41719.

A network perspective on real-life threat, anxiety, and avoidance.

Anxiety, approach, and avoidance motivation crucially influence mental and physical health, especially when environments are stressful. The interplay between anxiety and behavioral motivation is modulated by multiple individual factors. This proof-of-concept study applies graph-theoretical network analysis to explore complex associations between self-reported trait anxiety, approach and avoidance motivation, situational anxiety, stress symptoms, perceived threat, perceived positive consequences of approach, and self-reported avoidance behavior in real-life threat situations. A total of 436 participants who were matched on age and gender (218 psychotherapy patients, 218 online-recruited nonpatients) completed an online survey assessing these factors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The resulting cross-sectional psychological network revealed a complex pattern with multiple positive (e.g., between trait anxiety, avoidance motivation, and avoidance behavior) and negative associations (e.g., between approach and avoidance motivation). The patient and online subsample networks did not differ significantly, however, descriptive differences may inform future research.

Expression and detection of triarchic psychopathy traits in the self-defining memories of U.S. undergraduates

Research linking psychopathic personality to autobiographical memory and narrative identity is limited. We present preliminary evidence suggesting that traits from the triarchic model of psychopathy (measured via self-report) predict self-reported affect as well as researcher-coded affective themes, event specificity, and meaning making in self-defining memories (SDMs). We observed this in a small sample that was well-powered for multilevel modeling (1200 SDMs total obtained from 120 undergraduate participants from the U.S.). Additionally, we present preliminary evidence – using an extreme-groups approach – that raters can detect the expression of the triarchic psychopathy traits in written SDM transcripts. Ten research assistants (working independently, and without prior training in assessment) used prototype descriptions of the triarchic traits to rate 40 participants on each trait. Their ratings correlated meaningfully with a range of relevant self-reported traits. Thus, aspects of psychopathy could be detected, albeit imperfectly, solely from written autobiographical memories. This research contributes to the literatures on person perception, psychopathy, and narrative identity. It also supports the status of autobiographical narratives as a unique source of data in personality research and clinical inference.

Trait anxiety slows speed of processing but does not affect specific components of executive control

The present work aimed to establish the influence of self-reported trait anxiety on computerized and self-reported measures of executive control, and speed of processing in young adults using latent variable modeling. One hundred and six participants completed the State-trait anxiety questionnaire (STAI-t), the Attentional Control Scale (ACS), and a set of computerized tasks of executive control, tapping into the updating, inhibition, and shifting components. Higher scores in the latent variable of trait anxiety were negatively associated with the self-reported latent variable of attentional control. Notably, self-reported and performance-based indicators of executive control showed no associations at the latent level. Contrary to our hypotheses, higher trait anxiety did not affect any performance-based executive component but was associated with an increase in response times. We show that self-reported trait anxiety is related to a lower self-perceived sense of attentional control and does not affect executive functioning in non-clinical samples. In turn, trait anxiety is mainly associated with a slowed speed of processing. In conclusion, the tendency to experience a negative mood is related with cognitive processing by reducing its speed even in the absence of threatening stimuli.

Exploring the structure of fearlessness using self-report measures.

The present study examined the hierarchical structure of self-reported fearlessness and compared this structure to external criterion measures. Fearlessness is often discussed in relation to clinical and personality research. However, there is a paucity of research focusing on its empirical structure, in particular with self-report measures. Using a preregistered analytical approach, we employed Goldberg's2006 "bass-ackward" factor analysis on self-reported trait fear and fearlessness items to uncover the hierarchical structure of the construct. The final sample consisted of 619 participants and 562 informants. By assessing fit statistics and interpretability of the factors, we found a six-factor model fit the data best. The six-factor solution emerged as comprehensive and included components labeled Assertiveness, Low Anxiety, Sociability, Recklessness, Openness to Action, and Adventurousness. Criterion variables measuring boldness, fear, anxiety, psychopathy, basic personality traits, and impulsivity, were correlated with the factor scores at each factor level of the model. Conclusions The findings from this study elucidate how trait fearlessness unfolds at varying levels and how these factors relate to and diverge from various outcomes.

Insomnia nosology: a systematic review and critical appraisal of historical diagnostic categories and current phenotypes.

Insomnia nosology has significantly evolved since the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-III-R first distinguished between 'primary' and 'secondary' insomnia. Prior International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD) nosology 'split' diagnostic phenotypes to address insomnia's heterogeneity and the DSM nosology 'lumped' them into primary insomnia, while both systems assumed causality for insomnia secondary to health conditions. In this systematic review, we discuss the historical phenotypes in prior insomnia nosology, present findings for currently proposed insomnia phenotypes based on more robust approaches, and critically appraise the most relevant ones. Electronic databases PsychINFO, PubMED, Web of Science, and references of eligible articles, were accessed to find diagnostic manuals, literature on insomnia phenotypes, including systematic reviews or meta-analysis, and assessments of the reliability or validity of insomnia diagnoses, identifying 184 articles. The data show that previous insomnia diagnoses lacked reliability and validity, leading current DSM-5-TR and ICSD-3 nosology to 'lump' phenotypes into a single diagnosis comorbid with health conditions. However, at least two new, robust insomnia phenotyping approaches were identified. One approach is multidimensional-multimethod and provides evidence for self-reported insomnia with objective short versus normal sleep duration linked to clinically relevant outcomes, while the other is multidimensional and provides evidence for two to five clusters (phenotypes) based on self-reported trait, state, and/or life-history data. Some approaches still need replication to better support whether their findings identify true phenotypes or simply different patterns of symptomatology. Regardless, these phenotyping efforts aim at improving insomnia nosology both as a classification system and as a mechanism to guide treatment.

Negative affect and loss-of-control eating in relation to adiposity among non-Hispanic youth identifying as black or white

Negative affect and loss-of-control (LOC)-eating are consistently linked and prevalent among youth identifying as non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and non-Hispanic White (NHW), particularly those with high weight. Given health disparities in high weight and associated cardiometabolic health concerns among NHB youth, elucidating how the association of negative affect with adiposity may vary by racial/ethnic group, and whether that relationship is impacted by LOC-eating, is warranted. Social inequities and related stressors are associated with negative affect among NHB youth, which may place this group at increased risk for excess weight gain. Across multiple aggregated protocols, 651 youth (13.0 ± 2.7 y; 65.9 % girls, 40.7 % NHB; 1.0 ± 1.1 BMIz; 37.6 % LOC-eating) self-reported trait anxiety and depressive symptoms as facets of negative affect. LOC-eating was assessed by interview and adiposity was measured objectively. Cross-sectional moderated mediation models predicted adiposity from ethno-racial identification (NHB, NHW) through the pathway of anxiety or depressive symptoms and examined whether LOC-eating influenced the strength of the pathway, adjusting for SES, age, height, and sex. The association between ethno-racial identity and adiposity was partially mediated by both anxiety (95 % CI = [0.01, 0.05]) and depressive symptoms (95 % CI = [0.02, 0.08]), but the mediation was not moderated by LOC-eating for either anxiety (95 % CI = [−0.04, 0.003]) or depressive symptoms (95 % CI = [−0.07, 0.03]). Mechanisms underlying the link between negative affect and adiposity among NHB youth, such as stress from discrimination and stress-related inflammation, should be explored. These data highlight the need to study impacts of social inequities on psychosocial and health outcomes.

Gratitude and Adolescents’ Mental Health and Well-Being: Effects and Gender Differences for a Positive Social Media Intervention in High Schools

Gratitude interventions can provide cost-effective support for mental health to under-resourced schools. This study aims to better understand the effects of a promising intervention Bono et al. evaluated in 2020. Using a quasi-experimental design (where classes were assigned to a thanking app, gratitude curriculum, app + curriculum, or control condition), that evaluation found that the full (combined) intervention impacted students’ self-reported trait gratitude, anxiety, and subjective well-being (SWB) over six weeks, compared against only the control condition. However, here, we evaluated the individual intervention components’ effectiveness on students (N = 326) using multilevel modeling. As hypothesized, the full intervention impacted students’ gratitude, anxiety, and SWB, compared to the control condition, but impacted SWB more than the app-only condition, suggesting that teaching gratitude science makes thanking more meaningful. Then, we examined if stress mediated these effects. Perceived stress partially mediated the relationships of gratitude with depression and SWB and fully mediated the relationship of gratitude with anxiety. Additionally, changes in perceived stress and SWB differed by gender. Finally, we qualitatively analyzed thanks exchanges during the intervention using informal content analysis and found themes of psychological safety—a critical feature neglected in other interventions. We conclude with recommendations for optimizing school gratitude interventions.

Dynamic Response Strategies: Accounting for Response Process Heterogeneity in IRTree Decision Nodes

It is essential to control self-reported trait measurements for response style effects to ensure a valid interpretation of estimates. Traditional psychometric models facilitating such control consider item responses as the result of two kinds of response processes—based on the substantive trait, or based on response styles—and they assume that both of these processes have a constant influence across the items of a questionnaire. However, this homogeneity over items is not always given, for instance, if the respondents’ motivation declines throughout the questionnaire so that heuristic responding driven by response styles may gradually take over from cognitively effortful trait-based responding. The present study proposes two dynamic IRTree models, which account for systematic continuous changes and additional random fluctuations of response strategies, by defining item position-dependent trait and response style effects. Simulation analyses demonstrate that the proposed models accurately capture dynamic trajectories of response processes, as well as reliably detect the absence of dynamics, that is, identify constant response strategies. The continuous version of the dynamic model formalizes the underlying response strategies in a parsimonious way and is highly suitable as a cognitive model for investigating response strategy changes over items. The extended model with random fluctuations of strategies can adapt more closely to the item-specific effects of different response processes and thus is a well-fitting model with high flexibility. By using an empirical data set, the benefits of the proposed dynamic approaches over traditional IRTree models are illustrated under realistic conditions.

Non-conscious processing of fear faces: a function of the implicit self-concept of anxiety

BackgroundTrait anxiety refers to a stable tendency to experience fears and worries across many situations. High trait anxiety is a vulnerability factor for the development of psychopathologies. Self-reported trait anxiety appears to be associated with an automatic processing advantage for threat-related information. Self-report measures assess aspects of the explicit self-concept of anxiety. Indirect measures can tap into the implicit self-concept of anxiety.MethodsWe examined automatic brain responsiveness to non-conscious threat as a function of trait anxiety using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Besides a self-report instrument, we administered the Implicit Association Test (IAT) to assess anxiety. We used a gender-decision paradigm presenting brief (17 ms) and backward-masked facial expressions depicting disgust and fear.ResultsExplicit trait anxiety was not associated with brain responsiveness to non-conscious threat. However, a relation of the implicit self-concept of anxiety with masked fear processing in the thalamus, precentral gyrus, and lateral prefrontal cortex was observed.ConclusionsWe provide evidence that a measure of the implicit self-concept of anxiety is a valuable predictor of automatic neural responses to threat in cortical and subcortical areas. Hence, implicit anxiety measures could be a useful addition to explicit instruments. Our data support the notion that the thalamus may constitute an important neural substrate in biased non-conscious processing in anxiety.

Linking Impulsivity to Activity Levels in Pre-Supplementary Motor Area during Sequential Gambling.

Impulsivity refers to the tendency to act prematurely or without forethought, and excessive impulsivity is a key problem in many neuropsychiatric disorders. Since the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) has been implicated in inhibitory control, this region may also contribute to impulsivity. Here, we examined whether functional recruitment of pre-SMA may contribute to risky choice behavior (state impulsivity) during sequential gambling and its relation to self-reported trait impulsivity. To this end, we performed task-based functional MRI (fMRI) after low-frequency (1 Hz) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the pre-SMA. We expected low-frequency rTMS to modulate task-related engagement of the pre-SMA and, hereby, tune the tendency to make risky choices. Twenty-four healthy volunteers (12 females; age range, 19-52 years) received real or sham-rTMS on separate days in counterbalanced order. Thereafter, participants performed a sequential gambling task with concurrently increasing stakes and risk during whole-brain fMRI. In the sham-rTMS session, self-reported trait impulsivity scaled positively with state impulsivity (riskier choice behavior) during gambling. The higher the trait impulsivity, the lower was the task-related increase in pre-SMA activity with increasingly risky choices. Following real-rTMS, low-impulsivity participants increased their preference for risky choices, while the opposite was true for high-impulsivity participants, resulting in an overall decoupling of trait impulsivity and state impulsivity during gambling. This rTMS-induced behavioral shift was mirrored in the rTMS-induced change in pre-SMA activation. These results provide converging evidence for a causal link between the level of task-related pre-SMA activity and the propensity for impulsive risk-taking behavior in the context of sequential gambling.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Impulsivity is a personal trait characterized by a tendency to act prematurely or without forethought, and excessive impulsivity is a key problem in many neuropsychiatric disorders. Here we provide evidence that the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) is causally involved in implementing general impulsive tendencies (trait impulsivity) into actual behavior (state impulsivity). Participants' self-reported impulsivity levels (trait impulsivity) were reflected in their choice behavior (state impulsivity) when involved in a sequential gambling task. This relationship was uncoupled after perturbing the pre-SMA with repetitive transcranial stimulation (rTMS). This effect was contingent on trait impulsivity and was echoed in rTMS-induced changes in pre-SMA activity. Pre-SMA is key in translating trait impulsivity into behavior, possibly by integrating prefrontal goals with corticostriatal motor control.

Are Mindfulness and Mind-Wandering Opposite Constructs? It Depends on How Mindfulness is Conceptualised.

This study investigated if trait mindfulness and its components, mindful attention, acceptance, and non-judging correlate negatively with self-reported and indirect markers of mind-wandering. The 552 participants of the study completed an anonymous online questionnaire consisting of trait mindfulness and mind-wandering scales. They also completed the computer-based Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART), an objective measure of mind-wandering. The total mindfulness score and acceptance and non-judging subscale scores were strongly negatively correlated with both self-reported trait mind-wandering (TMW) and SART indices of mind-wandering. In contrast, attention was significantly positively correlated with both. These findings suggest that trait mindfulness conceptualised as a multi-component construct, but not a uni-component one, is probably an opposing construct to trait mind-wandering. Furthermore, mindfulness and its components, acceptance and non-judging, are associated with a reduction in the more common form of SART errors. However, only the acceptance component made a unique contribution to the variance in TMW and SART performance. Therefore, it is advisable for researchers to specify whether they investigated mindfulness as a uni-component or multi-component construct. Furthermore, it would be beneficial if future research investigates the relationship of mindfulness and its components with mind-wandering further by also incorporating a measure of state mindfulness.

Filling gaps in the nomological networks for dominance and affiliation by examining self-informant agreement on momentary interpersonal behavior

Interpersonal functioning involves an interplay of subjective perceptions and overt behavior. This study examines alignment between self and informant perceptions of momentary behavior to enrich the nomological networks for the domains of dominance and affiliation. We studied a sample of romantic couples ( N = 210 individuals) who rated their own and their partner’s interpersonal behavior during a 21-day ambulatory assessment (AA) protocol. We used multi-level structural equation modeling to estimate self-informant agreement on averages and variability of dominance and affiliation (between-person level) and on situational shifts in behavior (within-person level). We also examined convergence between self- and informant reported behavior measured by AA with cross-sectional self-report trait dominance, affiliation, and interpersonal problems. Results showed no self-informant agreement on dominance measured by AA, but moderate to strong agreement on affiliation at the between- and within-person levels. Self- and informant reported average affiliation measured by AA correlated with self-reports of trait affiliation, but only AA self-reports correlated with affiliation problems. Both self- and informant report dominance variability, and informant report affiliation variability, correlated with self-report interpersonal distress. Evidence for (mis)alignment in how dominance and affiliation are perceived by self and others have important implications for the role of these behaviors in everyday interpersonal functioning.

Transdiagnostic brain correlates of self-reported trait impulsivity: A dimensional structure-symptom investigation

Impulsivity transcends psychiatric diagnoses and is often related to anhedonia. This ad hoc cross-sectional investigation explored 1) whether self-reported trait impulsivity mapped onto a common structural brain substrate across healthy controls (HCs) and psychiatric patients, and 2) in a more exploratory fashion, whether impulsivity and anhedonia were related to each other and shared overlapping brain correlates. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) datasets from 234 participants including HCs (n = 109) and patients with opioid use disorder (OUD, n = 22), cocaine use disorder (CUD, n = 43), borderline personality disorder (BPD, n = 45) and schizophrenia (SZ, n = 15) were included. Trait impulsivity was measured with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and anhedonia with a subscore of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). BIS-11 global score data were available for the entire sample, while data on the BIS-11 2nd order factors attentional, motor and non-planning were additionally in hand for a subsample consisting of HCs, OUD and BPD patients (n = 116). Voxel-based morphometry analyses were conducted for identifying dimensional associations between grey matter volume and impulsivity/anhedonia. Partial correlations were further performed to exploratory test the relationships between impulsivity and anhedonia and their corresponding volumetric brain substrates. Volume of the left opercular part of the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) was negatively related to global impulsivity across the entire sample and specifically to motor impulsivity in the subsample of HCs, OUD and BPD patients. Across patients anhedonia expression was negatively correlated with left putamen volume. Although there was no relationship between global impulsivity and anhedonia across all patients, only across OUD and BPD patients anhedonia was positively associated with attentional impulsivity. Finally, also across OUD and BPD patients, motor impulsivity associated left IFG volume was positively linked with anhedonia-associated volume in the left putamen. Our findings suggest a critical role of left IFG volume in self-reported global impulsivity across healthy participants and patients with substance use disorder, BPD and SZ. Preliminary findings in OUD and BPD patients further suggests associations between impulsivity and anhedonia that are related to grey matter reductions in the left IFG and putamen.

Exploration patterns shape cognitive map learning

Spontaneous, volitional spatial exploration is crucial for building up a cognitive map of the environment. However, decades of research have primarily measured the fidelity of cognitive maps after discrete, controlled learning episodes. We know little about how cognitive maps are formed during naturalistic free exploration. Here, we investigated whether exploration trajectories predicted cognitive map accuracy, and how these patterns were shaped by environmental structure. In two experiments, participants freely explored a previously unfamiliar virtual environment. We related their exploration trajectories to a measure of how long they spent in areas with high global environmental connectivity (integration, as assessed by space syntax). In both experiments, we found that participants who spent more time on paths that offered opportunities for integration formed more accurate cognitive maps. Interestingly, we found no support for our pre-registered hypothesis that self-reported trait differences in navigation ability would mediate this relationship. Our findings suggest that exploration patterns predict cognitive map accuracy, even for people who self-report low ability, and highlight the importance of considering both environmental structure and individual variability in formal theory- and model-building.

The genetics of self-reported trait impulsivity: Contribution of catecholaminergic gene variants in European ancestry individuals

Increased trait impulsivity is a core element in several mental disorders. Given the durable and consistent nature of trait impulsivity, studies have explored its relation to stable biological measures. Variation in catecholaminergic neurotransmission by genetic variants could be one of these biological substrates.Here, 905 participants of European-ancestry completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale–11 and were genotyped in three single nucleotide polymorphisms related to catecholaminergic neurotransmission: the DRD2/ANKK Taq1A, the C957T DRD2 and the Val158Met of the COMT gene.We found significant main effects of Val158Met and C957T on BIS-11 score. Also, interactions with gender were significant in both SNPs with a tendency to slightly different genotype and allele associations with the BIS-total score between male and female participants. Whereas in females, higher impulsivity scores were obtained by participants with the Val158Met heterozygous genotype (Met/Val), data indicate a trend towards a higher impulsivity score in male Val-allele carriers. In the case of C957T, only a tentative association between male T-allele carriers and higher impulsivity scores in comparison to CC genotype carriers could be established. No significant associations were found between BIS-11 and Taq1A.We provide further evidence for a gender-specific implication of Val158Met and C957T in trait impulsivity.

The association between ballroom dance training and empathic concern: Behavioral and brain evidence.

Dance is unique in that it is a sport and an art simultaneously. Beyond improving sensorimotor functions, dance training could benefit high-level emotional and cognitive functions. Duo dances also confer the possibility for dancers to develop the abilities to recognize, understand, and share the thoughts and feelings of their dance partners during the long-term dance training. To test this possibility, we collected high-resolution structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from 43 expert-level ballroom dancers (a model of long-term exposure to duo dance training) and 40 age-matched and sex-matched nondancers, and measured their empathic ability using a self-report trait empathy scale. We found that ballroom dancers showed higher scores of empathic concern (EC) than controls. The EC scores were positively correlated with years with dance partners but negatively correlated with the number of dance partners for ballroom dancers. These behavioral results were supported by the structural and functional MRI data. Structurally, we observed that the gray matter volumes in the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and EC scores were positively correlated. Functionally, the connectivity between ACC and occipital gyrus was positively correlated with both EC scores and years with dance partners. In addition, the relationship between years with dance partners and EC scores was indirect-only mediated by the ACC-occipital gyrus functional connectivity. Therefore, our findings provided solid evidence for the close link between long-term ballroom dance training and empathy, which deepens our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying this phenomenon.